The Internet has been abuzz with stories about the demise of “The Simpsons.” As reported pretty much everywhere, unless the voice actors agree to a pretty substantial pay cut (which the show’s producers have already accepted), FOX will end the show after this season’s run of new episodes. Also, there have been reports that even if the actors agree to the pay cut, FOX doesn’t want to extend the show beyond one more season because it is “no longer profitable.” From The Wrap:

If no deal can be reached between the actors and 20th Century Fox TV, then the current, twenty-third season will be the show’s last. But the executive said Fox, the network “The Simpsons” helped establish, wants only one additional season even if the actors and studio can come to terms. […]

The studio declined to comment Wednesday. But the executive told TheWrap that the show is no longer profitable for the network, and that Fox wants to pay 25 to 30 percent less for new episodes. The executive said many on the show have been asked to accept salary cuts, and that producers have already agreed to them, as they try to reduce the licensing fee that Fox pays to air the show.

“The cuts proposed to actors are in line with cuts proposed to others involved in the show. The object here is not for the actors to pay personally for the reduction,” the executive said. “The cost is that the cast is a component of the show, all of which is being downsized to do a final season.”

The Internet, as a collective, picked up this story with the type of reasoned reaction and analysis it is known for, saying things like “OMGZOMG SIMPSONS CANCELED QUESTION MARK,” or “NEXT SEASON OF THE SIMPSONS WILL BE ITS LAST EXCLAMATION POINT.” But if you read to the bottom of that very link I just posted, you’ll see this quote a FOX executive made on Monday:

23 seasons in, The Simpsons is as creatively vibrant as ever and beloved by millions around the world. We believe this brilliant series can and should continue, but we cannot produce future seasons under its current financial model. We are hopeful that we can reach an agreement with the voice cast that allows The Simpsons to go on entertaining audiences with original episodes for many years to come.

Come on.

So, to recap: On Monday, everyone hoped to make a deal that would keep the show on the air for many years, but by Thursday morning — about 24 hours before today’s supposed noon deadline for the actors to make a decision — the show had become a completely unprofitable money pit. One that the executives are bending over backwards for to do everything they can to keep it on the air for one more year, if only those dastardly voice actors weren’t so greedy and terrible.

This is the crap that drives me up a wall, people. The two sides are in the middle of a nasty labor dispute, yet major media organizations take this information from an “anonymous FOX executive” and report it as gospel, and then millions of people read only the sensationalistic headline and jump off a cliff. The FOX executives have a dog in this fight — to make it seem like any decision they make on the subject will be done with their hands tied. That way the people responsible are the money-grubbing actors who are making the ungodly sum of $8 million a year, and not the FOX overlords who have had to scrape by on the paltry billions of dollars the show has made the company over the years.

Look, I’m not saying there’s no way this season will end up being the show’s last. If there’s one thing rich people love doing, it’s making petty and childish stands about money. Hell, the decision could be announced in ten minutes for all I know, making this a gigantic waste of time for both me and all of you. But the bigger point I’m trying to make is that when you read reports like this, take a step back and run it through your BS detector. When only one side of a negotiation is quoted in a story, and says something that conflicts with a quote they released earlier in the week, that should put up a red flag or two. Especially given how much money and publicity there is to gain by extending the show two more years to bring it to 25 seasons.

I guess the point I’m trying to make, as much as it pains me to do it, is this: be less like Lionel Hutz, and more like the Blue Haired Lawyer. Thank you and good day.

Join The Discussion

In my world, this is still a more pressing labor dispute than the NBA lock-out, and I haven’t watched The Simpsons in years

10.07.11 at 11:13 am

essequemodeia

The Simpsons not acknowledging that it’s not funny anymore is like executives for News Of The World denying they knew phone hacking was commonplace.

They’ve done all they’ve needed to do to be beloved but say goodbye.

10.07.11 at 11:18 am

Charlie

Maybe moving to a new network–cable TV even (gasp!), would be reinvention this show needs to bring back its longtime viewers (like myself) who change the channel whenever an episode is dated post-2002. i.e. If new Simpsons were on Comedy Central every week, you’re damn right I’d tune in.

see: Futurama

10.07.11 at 11:22 am

Rondogg

Kill it.

10.07.11 at 11:25 am

madeofspam

Even though I don’t have the same love for The Simpsons as I did 10 years ago, I’d hate to see it go off the air because of greed. Maybe if FOX didn’t give Seth McFarlane so many shows or pour so much money into Glee, X-Factor & American Idol, there might be more money to keep The Simpsons around until they’re ready to go off the air.

10.07.11 at 11:32 am

Stinky Pete

The Simpsons are a perfect metaphor for America: after an inspiring run of unprecedented greatness, it slowly degenerated to the point that now it only exists to generate huge profits for giant corporations who own it, even at the expense of the little guys who made it all possible, grabbing as much money as they can before the whole thing implodes.

10.07.11 at 11:54 am

Deezy

I haven’t watched The Simpsons in years but I still want it to be there. It’s just comforting knowing that at 8pm on Sunday it will be there, right where it should be, even if I just pass right by it in my FiOS guide.

10.07.11 at 11:56 am

Jack Burton

People want so bad to be the first to say something that they tend to jump to conclusions and extrapolate from an article like that only the words that support the conclusion they’ve already made. The instant nature of electronic communication only exacerbates this.

Oh…sorry. I forgot this is the internet. I used too many big words.

Plp blv whut they want 2 cuz they R dum N don’t read good. Yo.

10.07.11 at 12:40 pm

Alcoholics Gratuitous

Could this be a ploy to convince people who appreciate The Simpsons to actually watch the show? If so, it won’t work on me.

10.07.11 at 12:46 pm

Observerwwtdd

I hope this story can be loaded into the SNL ipod alarm clock….and can be read to each and all every morning….

10.07.11 at 1:29 pm

Gen

Danger, you’ve been extra rant-y lately. Mamma likes.

10.07.11 at 2:08 pm

Munchguy

We’re going to get a headline that says something like, “SIMPSONS renewed for 6 years; Cast to earn $280 million” and my head will explode

10.07.11 at 2:43 pm

Nope Noperson

>2011

>Believing what a Fox Producer says in a PR statement

I seriously hope you guys don’t do this.

10.07.11 at 4:23 pm

Jimmysuggs

I enjoy his attempt to get us to relate to him, by referring to the other side as “rich people.” He’s just like us, an oppressed guy fighting against fat cats!!!! Except he makes 8 million dollars a year. Which frankly, I would say qualifies him as rich. Maybe not AS rich as the people he’s trying to get more money out of, but still- he’s nice and rich. I shed no tears for him and if the Simpsons goes away, that’s a-ok with me.

10.07.11 at 4:45 pm

Androol

I like your analogy, Stinky.

10.07.11 at 5:40 pm

Thatsamare

At 8 million per, why don’t the voice actors just quit on the spot? They should be more than set for life. That move would cost fox hundreds of millions of dollars.

10.07.11 at 11:40 pm

essequemodeia

AAANNNDDD… Renewed for two more seasons.

10.10.11 at 8:00 am

Pugiron

This is the kind of hollier-than-thou know-it-allism you should expect from the kind of internet douce that gives himself the lame name of “Danger”.